LOS ANGELES — The drama surrounding Manny Pacquiao continues.
Today the World Boxing Council announced the cancellation of the purse bid for a bout between the Filipino and the Council’s Super Featherweight Champion Marco Antonio Barrera until the legal confusion surrounding Pacquiao’s promoter can be straightened out.
One of the day’s more interesting notes came from Fight News, which reports that Don King denies any rumors of him being in the pursuit of Manny Pacquiao’s promotional rights. King is quoted as saying, “”I have no idea where these reports have emanated from, but I can assure everyone the media accounts are absolutely false in their entirety and have no merit whatsoever.”
My own report (http://www.boxingconfidential.com/articles.php?id=59) from December 12th detailed comments from a source close to King regarding Don’s interest in winning the now cancelled purse bid. After my column, several internet and Filipino new sources have detailed King’s maneuvering towards Pacman.
What a coincidence that King only publicly denied the reports when the purse bid was cancelled. You read into that for yourself.
So where are we now?
Pacquiao still has no clear promoter and will not until a court makes a decision. The time table for legal proceedings is unclear.
Shelly Finkel, after traveling to the Philippines for Pacquiao’s birthday, is waiting to see if his managerial contract will be extended.
A bout between Pacquiao and Barrera, one of the best in boxing, is on the shelf.
Boxing is again suffering from out of the ring headlines.
Instead of looking forward to the Pacman’s next bout, we are unraveling the politics surrounding the star. We can only blame Pacquiao for being loose with his signature on promotional contracts.
A chunk of the blame should also go to his closest advisors. I am not speaking of Finkel, who I can guarantee does not endorse the signing of multiple promotional deals. I speak of Manny’s Filipino inner-circle, the hanger-ons who should be protecting him from these scandals.
If his Filipino brethren would have given half a damn about Manny’s career, they would have steered him away from these sorts of problems the minute he started developing stardom similar to fistic heroes such as Ali or Chavez.
Golden Boy and Top Rank also share in the blame. Both promotions know the rules and regulations of signing fighters and should have followed them. Courts will decide who the ultimate promotional heel will be, but for now, shame on both of them.
So from the Boxing Santa to Manny, his Filipino inner-circle, Golden Boy, and Top Ranks, a lump of coal for staining the wonderful sport of boxing…once again.
Oh yeah, and Santa smiles and gives millions upon millions of dollars in television and sponsorship deals to Mixed Martial Arts, where the backroom politics do not detract fans.
